Page 15 of Playing for Keeps

Lola settles down for just a second. She seems genuinely hopeful about the future. Then, something clicks in her head—probably memories of my teasing—and she gets frazzled again.

“We’ll organize a get-together here in the next week. The wedding isn’t a big deal. Just something legal to bind your family and mine.”

“No to all that. My family is bigger, so we’ll throw the get-together at the homestead. Your only job will be to show up and treat my ma nice.”

“Well, she better be nice to me, too. I’m not taking guff from some crazy Tumbling Rock lady.”

“My ma isn’t crazy,” I patiently explain. “Poppy just acts that way for fun.”

Lola rolls her eyes and then smacks my hand away when I poke her nose.

“As for the wedding, I want something beautiful,” I say and wave my hand dramatically in the air. “I envision all the classy stuff like balloon arches and bounce houses. Ooh, and I wantreal fancy chicken wings at the reception. And I know some people will complain, but I think you should wear white.”

Lola slugs my right arm while I grin at her rage. “I’m going to tear your dick off on our wedding night.”

“No, baby, I need that to impregnate you with our perfect kids. Plus, there’s no way will the Blood-Red Suns respect a dick-less dude. I mean if a cock wasn’t necessary, your dad could have just made you the future president.”

“I’d do a better job than you.”

“Prove it by being a wise old lady. Tell me how to beat my men better and be sure to rub my shoulders when the job wears at me.”

Looking like a pissed angel, Lola seethes before me. The last time I saw this level of lady hostility was from Edith after West asked if she was riding bitch on Aunt Flo’s hog. My cousin churned with such rage that West’s dick nearly shriveled up and fell off. He dodged a bullet there, and Alexis should thank Edith every day for letting his dick survive.

Right now, Lola’s seething is having the opposite reaction on my dick. Even if death is the end result, my dick is absolutely thrilled about our upcoming wedding night.

Lola snarls, “Go away.”

“No, I should meet your people first,” I say, stepping around her and walking toward her irritated family. “Hello, Duke. I never got to ask when I’d start shadowing you. Is tomorrow too soon?”

“Yes.”

“How about the day after?”

“Marry Lola first, so I’ll know you’re serious.”

“You’d let your daughter deal with me before you’d lower yourself to do it? Not cool,” I mock and then move on to Erin before Duke can give me shit. “Hello, Lola’s grandmother. Can I call you in-law Queen Meemaw?”

“No.”

“How about Basin Rock Queen Meemaw?”

“Just call me Erin.”

“Okay, but you’re missing out on being called ‘Queen.’”

Clover realizes I’ll bug her next and eases herself back inside the bar.

“She’s great,” I announce and then look at Lola. “This is a good family. Not as spectacular as mine, but you’ll see that soon enough.”

“He wants us to come to a get-together at his family’s property,” Lola grumbles to Duke and Erin.

“Give my ma a few days to do her magic,” I tell Erin since her son is trying to murder me with his gaze. “Then, you can meet everyone, and we’ll pick a wedding date and choose the balloon arch colors.”

Duke studies me like I’m something weird he’s found on his boot. Finally, he exhales hard. “You’re like a boy version of Tuesday.”

“Hey, I resent that. No way could she bench press as much as I can. I also have better hair.”

“Yes, we all heard about her perm,” Duke mutters and opens the door to the bar. As Erin flees inside, Lola steps around her dad and follows her meemaw. “You have my number.”

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